Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2017-18 | Hawk Talk Monthly — January 2018 | Iowa at Minnesota Notes
THIS WEEK
The eighth-ranked University of Iowa men’s gymnastics travels to Minneapolis to face No. 6 Minnesota on Saturday, Jan. 27, at the Maturi Pavilion. Competition is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. (CT).
FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can watch the meet online with BTN Plus.They can also follow the meet online through live stats. A link to both is available on the Iowa men’s gymnastics schedule page at hawkeyesports.com. Fans can also follow along with live updates on Twitter (@mensgymiowa) and Facebook (iowamensgymnastics).
SEASON TICKETS
- Season tickets are $25 and all seating is general admission. Youth ages 18 and under and UI students receive free admission to all regular season home meets.
- Fans can purchase season tickets now at hawkeyesports.com/tickets, by calling 1-800-IA-HAWKS, or at the UI Athletics Ticket Office at the North Entrance of Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
LAST TIME OUT
- The Hawkeyes finished second in a tri-meet against UIC and Stanford, defeating UIC 396.100-366.300.
- Iowa recorded 11 individual season-best scores, eight career-high scores, and two team season-best scores.
- Senior Elijah Parsells won the pommel horse title (13.900), freshman Bennet Huang won the floor title (14.250), and junior Rogelio Vazquez won the parallel bars title (13.900).
IN THE RANKINGS
- Iowa enters week two ranked eighth in the Road to Nationals Poll. Minnesota is ranked sixth.
- The Hawkeyes are ranked eighth in the Coaches’ Poll. The Gophers are ranked seventh.
AROUND THE NATION
- The Hawkeyes are ranked third nationally on pommel horse (66.000 ave.), eighth on high bar (64.600 ave.), and ninth on rings (65.075 ave.).
- Sophomore Nick Merryman (13.925 NQA, No. 6) and seniors Elijah Parsells (13.875 NQA, No. 7) and Austin Hodges (13.775 NQA, No. 8) are all ranked in the top-10 on pommel horse.
- Hodges is ranked 10th on parallel bars (13.825 NQA).
SCOUTING THE GOPHERS
- Iowa will clash with No. 6 Minnesota for the second time this season.
- The Gophers defeated the Hawkeyes, 401.400-393.200 at the Windy City Invitational on Jan. 13.
- Minnesota is ranked second-nationally on pommel horse (67.050 ave.), third on floor (68.850 ave.), sixth on high bar (65.050 ave.), tied for sixth on vault (69.450 ave.), and eighth on rings (65.300 ave.) and parallel bars (65.900).
HAWKEYE NEWCOMERS
- All four Hawkeye freshman competed at UIC on Jan. 21.
- Chung earned a career-best score on vault (13.550).
- Huang won the floor event title with a career-best 14.250, notched a career-best on parallel bars (11.500), and finished third in the all-around with a career-best 76.650.
- Taylor finished fourth on floor with a career-best 13.900 and notched a career-best 13.050 on vault.
- Tommasone made his debut on rings, recording a 12.750.
TWO HAWKEYES NAMED TO WATCH LIST
- Junior Rogelio Vazquez and freshman Bennet Huang were named to the 2018 Big Ten Men’s Gymnasts to Watch list, the conference office announced Dec. 14.
- Vazquez won the parallel bars title with a season-best 13.900, recorded a runner-up finish on rings (13.400), and earned a season-best 12.950 on floor.
- Huang, one of three freshmen on the list, won the floor event title with a career-best 14.250, notched a career-best on parallel bars (11.500), and finished third in the all- around with a career-best 76.650.
RETURNING EXPERIENCE
Iowa returns 12-of-17 gymnasts from last season. Senior Austin Hodges led the way at the Windy City Invitational, winning the parallel bars title (14.250) and shattering his own school record on pommel horse (14.700). Senior Dylan Ellsworth notched a runner-up finish on vault(14.550) and sophomore Nick Merryman finished third on pommel horse (14.200).
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
The 2018 men’s gymnastics team breaks down into one redshirt senior, three seniors, three juniors, five sophomores, and four freshmen.
7 GYMNASTS NAMED ALL-AMERICAN SCHOLAR ATHLETES
Andrew Botto, Austin Hodges, Josh Zeal, Cory Paterson, Mark Springett, Jake Brodarzon, and Brandon Wong were named All-American Scholar Athletes for the 2017 season by the College Gymnastics Association. Botto, Hodges, and Zeal earned first team All-American Schoar Athletes honors while Paterson, Springett, Brodarzon, and Wong earned second team All-American Scholar Athlete honors.
DUNN INDUCTED TO 2017 HALL OF FAME
Former University of Iowa men’s gymnastics head coach Tom Dunn was inducted to the National Iowa Varsity Club Athletics Hall of Fame on Sept.1 . Dunn led the Iowa men’s gymnastics program to 18 top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships before retiring in 2010 as the “Dean” of Hawkeye head coaches. Dunn took over the Iowa program in 1981 and led the Hawkeyes to Big Ten titles in 1986 and 1998. Under his leadership, Iowa won five individual NCAA titles, 35 Big Ten individual tiles, and earned 67 All-America honors. He was named Big Ten Coach of the Year three times (1997, 1998, 2006), and earned regional Coach of the Year honors in 1986, 1998, and 2006.
FOLLOW THE HAWKEYES
For an inside look at the Iowa men’s gymnastics program and access to exclusive coverage, “like” Iowa Men’s Gymnastics on Facebook and follow @mensgymiowa on Twitter and @iowamgym on Instagram.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes open their home slate, hosting Illinois at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Feb. 3. Competition is scheduled to begin on 1 p.m. (CT).
